When planning a whole home renovation, it is essential that homeowners make the right preparations so they get what they want and without any misunderstandings.

Miscommunications and assumptions, whether on the part of the homeowner or the redesign company, can cause problems along the way.

Let these tips on getting the details right help when working with whole home contractors to ensure everyone is on the same page and the job gets finished as expected!

1. Get An Estimate In Writing

The only acceptable estimate that homeowners should accept from any whole home contractor is a written one.

Texted estimates and other ballpark figures are not true estimates and accepting those could lead to problems later when the contractor asks for more money because something was not calculated correctly.

2. Involve the Right Professionals

Work with a whole home redesign company that employs the right professionals who can make the designing and execution of a whole home project easier.

Hire a general contractor for the job itself, but also include a designer to help with decision-making, an architect to solve planning problems, and specialty installers when choosing specialty materials.

3. Use 3-D Mock-Ups Before Agreeing On Built-Ins

Before agreeing to whole home renovations on paper, take the time to make 3-D mock-ups of any built-ins being added to make sure they fit the way it seems they do.

Kitchen islands, closets, shelves, and other permanent items should be temporarily constructed to provide an accurate presentation of how they will look and feel so homeowners can confirm that these components actually work for them.

4. Understand How Certain Modifications Affect The Rest of the House

Realize beforehand that some changes, like additions, bump-outs, and changing bathroom fixtures can affect the rest of the house.

Modifications that require contractors to change existing walls and pipes especially might be concerning.

Know ahead of time what additional changes are necessary to confirm that these are acceptable.

5. Don’t Rely On Images Before Buying

See and touch fixtures, components, and materials before agreeing to them.

The items brought in by a redesign company may not look as expected if they have only been viewed online.

Confirm all items and specialty materials in person to ensure they are truly what the homeowner is looking for.

6. Remember To Budget In Temporary Housing

Whole home renovations frequently require homeowners to relocate during the months that the renovation is being completed.

It is essential to plan for that ;and budget enough money to cover rental accommodations, meals, and other costs that might be incurred when losing access to the kitchen or potentially the entire house.

Discuss it ahead of time with the contractor to know whether vacating the home will be necessary at any point and for how long.

7. Reconsider Remodels Specifically for Kids

As nice as they may seem initially, consider that renovations catering to children such as low sinks and vanities, built-in child-sized desks, and other smaller components will be outgrown within a few years.

Be Informed Before Starting A Whole Home Renovation Project

Homeowners must be fully aware of all project details when hiring whole home contractors for a big renovation.

From getting an accurate estimate to understanding how their desired home renovation ideas will affect the look and use of their house, these are important research points for homeowners to consider before signing on the dotted line.

To ensure the best results with these projects, homeowners should be active in the planning phase with their whole home redesign company, ask questions, and make no assumptions.

Research and confirm everything first!